Here’s a detailed, cozy recipe for a Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake—it combines tender Swedish-style meatballs, creamy sauce, and baked pasta perfection. I’ll include step-by-step instructions so it’s easy to follow.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 small onion, finely grated
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp allspice (optional, for authentic Swedish flavor)
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or ½ cup cream + ½ cup milk)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt & pepper, to taste
For the Pasta Bake:
- 8 oz (225 g) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or shells work well)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, or a mix)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat and Prep
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, drain, and set aside.
2. Make the Meatballs
- In a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk; let sit 5 minutes.
- Add ground meat, grated onion, egg, salt, pepper, and allspice. Mix until just combined.
- Shape into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat with a little oil and brown the meatballs on all sides (they don’t need to cook through yet). Remove and set aside.
3. Make the Creamy Sauce
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
- Slowly whisk in beef broth, then cream.
- Add mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Assemble the Bake
- Combine cooked pasta and meatballs in a large baking dish.
- Pour creamy sauce over the top, mixing gently to coat everything.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top.
5. Bake
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
6. Serve
- Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy warm.
💡 Tips & Variations:
- Add frozen peas or spinach for extra veggies.
- For richer flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg to the sauce (classic in Swedish cooking).
- Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave.
If you want, I can also make a shortcut version that uses pre-cooked frozen meatballs and a single pan for even faster prep, perfect for a weeknight.
Do you want me to do that?
